My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Brad Lidge pitches a seamless ninth as the Phils squeak out a win behind Roy Halladay, defeating the Padres, 3-2.

Behind the pitching of Roy Halladay and the bullpen, especially a recently returning Brad Lidge, the Phils squeak out a victory as they defeat the Padres, 3-2, snapping their four game losing streak.

The Padres scored first in the second as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Tony Gwynn, Jr. hits an RBI single, scoring Scott Hairston, who had earlier singled, and had gone to third on Nick Hundley’s single, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead, while sending Hundley, who had earlier singled, up to second base. The Phils took the lead in the third as, with one man on, and with one man out, Shane Victorino hits a two-run home run, his ninth home run of the year, knocking in Roy Halladay, who had earlier singled, giving the Phils a 2-1 lead. The Padres tied the game up at two-all in the fifth as, with runners on the corners, and with nobody out, Adrian Gonzalez hits a sacrifice fly, knocking in Will Venable, who had earlier singled, and had gone to third on David Eckstein’s single. The Phils regained the lead in their half of the fifth as, with the bases loaded, via a double by Victorino, an infield single by Placido Polanco, sending Victorino to third, and Chase Utley being hit by the pitch, sending Polanco up to second base, and with two men out, Jayson Werth forces in a run with a walk, scoring Victorino, giving the Phils a 3-2 lead, while moving both Polanco and Utley up a base. That would be the final score, as Phils’ starter Halladay kept the Padres from adding any more runs, while reliever J.C. Romero in the eighth, with the bases loaded via Hundley being hit by a pitch, and walks to Gwynn, Jr. and to pinch hitter Oscar Salazar, and with one man out, got out of the jam by getting Chris Denorfia to hit into a doubleplay, 5-3, with Gwynn, Jr. being out at third for the second out of the inning. Brad Lidge then picked up his second save of the season as he pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Roy Halladay gets the win as he pitches seven innings, giving up two runs on ten hits and a walk, while striking out seven. His record is now 8-3 with a 2.03 ERA. Jose Contreras collects his third hold of the year as he pitches a third of an inning, giving up a walk and a hit batter. J.C. Romero receives his first hold of the season as he pitches two thirds of an inning, walking a batter. Brad Lidge gets his second save of the year as he pitches a 1-2-3 inning, striking out two batters. Mat Latos gets the lost as he pitches just five innings, giving up three runs on four hits, four walks and a hit batter, while striking out six. His record is now 5-4 with a 3.26 ERA. Edward Mujica, Joe Thatcher and Luke Gregerson combine for three scoreless innings, giving up just two hits (Thatcher (1), Gregerson (1)) and one walk (Thatcher), while striking out five (Mujica (3), Thatcher (1), Gregerson (1)).

The Phils had only six hits in the game, with Shane Victorino leading the team with two hits, a two-run home run and a double, knocking in two runs, while scoring two. Placido Polanco, Ryan Howard, Carlos Ruiz and Roy Halladay had the other four Phils’ hits, all singles. Jayson Werth had the other Phil RBI via a bases loaded walk.

The Phils (29-24, 2nd East) continues their four-game series with the Padres (32-22, 1st West) with a night game tonight. The game will begin at 7:05 pm and will be played at Citizens Bank Park. The Phils’ starter will be Jamie Moyer (5-5, 4.26), who is coming off a lost against the Marlins on May 30, as he pitched six innings, giving up just a run on four hits and two walks, while striking out two, in the Phils’ 1-0 lost. He will be trying to end his three game losing streak. The Padres will counter with Jon Garland (6-2, 2.15), who is coming off a no-decision against the Nationals on May 30, as he went seven innings, giving up just two runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out four, in the Padres’ 3-2 win. He will be trying for his seventh win of the season. The Phils will be trying to win their second straight game at home while hoping that the offense will finally erupt and blow someone out.

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Great to see Brad Lidge has brought his “A” game back after a short early season vacation.
And with him getting the “W” for “Doc” might establish some confidence in your closer, and give a starter like Halladay the confidence knowing he can throw 8 amazing innings and trust the outcome to remain in the Phillies favor.
It could be one of the key moments to get the Phillies ship in the right direction and take pressure off the starters to have to get the win themselves.

Same here, as he threw another 1-2-3 inning this afternoon. Now if the bats would just break out before they head up to Boston this weekend to see if they can get even with the team that help to put them on this skid in the first place. After all, it isn’t the pitching that is killing the Phils. It’s the silent bats. Good pitching is at the moment being wasted because the bats aren’t striking at the right moments.

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